Robert J. Schwarz, former executive vice president of Peter Pan Bus Lines, has left tohe company to become a lobbyist Submitted photo

SPRINGFIELD — Robert J. Schwarz, executive vice president of Peter Pan Bus Lines and a fixture in the civic and business life of the city, has moved to Washington and taken on a new job as a lobbyist for the bus industry.

“I feel very blessed and very fortunate,” said Schwarz, 66, of Wilbraham.

He’s been on the job since January as he transitioned from his role at Peter Pan to lobbying in Washington full time. Last week, the lobbying job involved watching a hearing on Capitol Hill concerning the pending federal highway bill.

“Essentially the highway trust find today is funded by the fuel tax,” Schwarz said. “But people are buying less fuel as we move to cars that are more fuel efficient. Some people have electric cars tat don’t take gas a diesel fuel at all.”

So, the legislation is a big deal to Schwarz because he represents companies that not only buy a lot of fuel but that depend on the Interstate Highway system to get paying passengers where they want to go.

He described himself a s a “weekend commuter” using pretty much every mode of transportation existing to get himself from home to airport to train station to Washington Metro to his Washington apartment to his office.

“What you do essentially is you review legislation. You act as a resource to members of Congress,” Schwarz said. “I think my years at Peter Pan prepared me for it.”

Schwarz said he came to Springfield in 1974 to work on the staff of Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. He later rose to lead the chamber.

Then, 27 years ago, the late Peter L. Picknelly hired Schawrz to help the family’s real estate business. He later started working in the bus business as Peter Pan expanded south of New York City for the first time.

Peter A. Picknelly, chairman and CEO of Peter Pan Bus Lines, and Schwarz was been a key player in the growth of Peter Pan and its related companies for many years.

“He has been responsible for much of our extensive community involvement in Springfield, Holyoke, and other communities where we have a significant business interest. Bob was mainly responsible for the creation of the Holyoke Transportation Center, including the Picknelly Adult and Family Education Center, which has received national recognition,” Picknelly wrote in a news release. “He was also the leader in the creation of OPAL Development, our real estate affiliate that has already become a major player in the redevelopment of cities in Hampden and Hampshire Counties.”